Quarterly Progress Report: Peru and Andean Trade Capacity Building Program

In Peru, all six components are well underway, while in Colombia, the Project is currently finishing an expanded work plan to attend new technical assistance needs related to the implementation of the Trade Promotion Agreement signed with the U.S. The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) of Peru presented its National Competitiveness Agenda 2012-2013, which contains 60 goals, with 16 corresponding to Project activities. The Project has received several requests for technical support from the Judiciary, primarily due to the upcoming implementation of the Labor Procedural Law (LPL) in Lima. The Project developed three nationwide trainings for over 100 public officials from the Labor Inspection System, focusing on five new Protocols on Occupational Safety and Health. Additionally, work has begun on redesigning the Ministry's Information System on Inspections to ensure the sustainability of reforms. The Ministry of Labor has designated its Office of Technical Cooperation and International Affairs as the regular counterpart for all Project activities. Regarding the Ministry of Justice, the Project had planned to conduct an exchange of ideas and internships between MINJUS and MOL conciliators, but this was put on hold due to a required Inter-ministerial Agreement. Despite this delay, the Project has advanced in the training processes for public defenders and conciliators from both ministries in the LPL. In the Intellectual Property component, the implementation of the module for generating electronic certificates of registration and entries has been completed. The Project is now coordinating with INDECOPI to improve its Management Information Systems, including the digitization of certificates of registration and entries and the improvement of their distinctive signs' online registration system. The virtualization of contents for the first online course on trademarks is almost finished, as well as the layout and printing of the Patents Manual for Examiners and the Copyrights Guide. These documents will be presented during the Intellectual Property Week. The first part of the antipiracy campaign, consisting of three spots regarding music, movies, and software piracy, has been completed and launched on April 20th, 2012. In the Trade Facilitation component, the official approval of the first measures to simplify trade-related procedures in the National Bureau of Environmental Health (DIGESA) has been achieved. Main improvements include a 40% reduction in the Certificate of Authorized Commercialization and the implementation of a new system for the registration of products. The Project has also supported Peru and Colombia Customs authorities in applying for USAID's fund Partnership for Trade Facilitation to obtain and allocate additional resources towards the modernization of customs. These initiatives will help both governments fulfill their obligations set in their corresponding Trade Promotion Agreements. The Project has continued its activities in Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador, with a focus on implementing the six components of the program. In Bolivia, the Project has supported the implementation of the Labor Procedural Law and the development of a Management Information System for the Ministry of Labor. In Colombia, the Project has provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism to implement the Trade Promotion Agreement with the U.S. The Project has also made progress in the Communications component, with a focus on improving the management of information systems and providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Justice. The Project has also supported the development of a Management Information System for the Ministry of Labor and the implementation of a new system for the registration of products. Overall, the Project has made significant progress in the last quarter, with a focus on implementing the six components of the program and providing technical assistance to the governments of Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador.